U.S. Systems of Aircraft Designation


U.S. Army Aeronautical Division 1909-1919
USAAS(Army Air Service)/USAAC (Army Air Corps)/ USAAF (Army Air Force) 1920-1947
USAF (Air Force) 1947-1962
US Army 1956-1962
US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard 1911-1914
US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard 1914-1916
US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard 1917-1922
US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard 1922-1962
Joint Service System (all services) 1962-



U.S. Army Air Service, Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces Aircraft

1909-1919 System

On August 1, 1907, the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army was created, although the first aircraft was not accepted until August 2, 1909. During the period from 1909 to 1919, there was no organized system of designation for Army aircraft; all aircraft were operated by the designations of individual manufacturers.

examples - Curtiss S-1, E.D. LUSAGH, Vought VE-8


1920-1947 System

In 1919, the Aeronautical Division became the Army Air Service (USAAS), independent from the Army. At this time a system of designation was adopted utilizing 15 basic mission symbols, along with other miscellaneous symbols, followed by a design number. This system was officially adopted after the Army Re-organization Act of June 4, 1920, which made the USAAS a component of the Army. New mission symbols were added, modified mission and status symbols were introduced, and eventually, the original 15 became obsolete. The USAAS became the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) under the Air Corps Act of July 2, 1926; the General Headquarters of the Air Force (G.H.Q. AF) was formed on March 1, 1935 to alleviate some of the responsibilities of the USAAC. On June 20, 1941, Army Regulation 95-5 created the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), with the USAAC and the G.H.Q. AF as its principal parts, although the G.H.Q. was discontinued on March 9, 1942. During the period of World War II, many new mission symbols were added, redesignated, overlapped, and discontinued, resulting in many ambiguities and confusions. However, as a result of the National Security Act of September 18, 1947, the USAAF became the U.S. Air Force, and was completely separated from the Army. In this act, a "division of duties" was established that prohibited (prohibits) the Army from operating any fixed wing, jet-powered attack aircraft, or tactical reconnaissance aircraft. The Army did test the limits of this agreement in evaluating aircraft such as the T-37, A-4, Fiat G.91, Northrop N-156, Grumman Gulfstream I/II, XV-6, and XV-4. The act also established a new designation system; this system was modified and adopted by all branches of service on September 18, 1962 (refer to Joint Service designation system).

examples -               PW-9D    NBL-1   Y1C-37   FP-80C  

Status                      -       -       Y1       -  
Modified Mission            -       -       -        P  
Basic Mission               PW     NBL      C        F  
Design Number               9       1       37       80  
Design Series               D       -       -        C  

ORIGINAL 15 MISSION SYMBOLS

PW   Pursuit-Water cooled (to P)          I    1921-1928  
PN   Pursuit-Night                        II   1921  
PA   Pursuit-Air cooled                   III  1922  
PG   Pursuit-Ground attack                IV   1922  
TP   Tandem Pursuit                       V    1922  
GA   Ground Attack                        VI   1920-1922  
IL   Infantry Liaison                     VII  1919  
NO   Night Observation                    VIII 1925  
AO   Army Observation                     IX   1924        
CO   Corps Observation                    X    1922-1924  
DB   Day Bombardment (to LB)              XI   1920-1923  
NBS  Night Bombardment-Short distance     XII  1921-1924  
NBL  Night Bombardment-Long distance      XIII 1923  
TA   Trainer-Air cooled                   XIV  1921-1924  
TW   Trainer-Water cooled                 XV   1920-1923  

Miscellaneous Symbols Adopted 1919

A   Ambulance                1919-1925  
M   Messenger                1919-1921  
PS  Alert Pursuit (Special)  1923  
R   Racer                    1921-1923  
T   Transport                1919-1923  

SYMBOLS ADDED AFTER ORIGINAL 1919 SYMBOLS

Status Prefixes

E   Exempt (Bailment to USAAF Contractor)          1946-1947  
G   Permanently Grounded                           1924-  
R   Restricted                                     1943-1947  
X   Experimental                                   1925-  
Y   Service Test                                   1928-  
Y1  Aircraft purchased with "F-1" funds instead    1931-1936  
     of USAAC appropriations  
Z   Obsolete                                       1928-  

Modified Mission Symbols

C    Transport                        1943-  
F    Photographic reconnaissance      1945-1947  
K    Ferret                           1944-1947  
T    Trainer                          1943-  
V    Administrative/V.I.P. transport  1945-  

Basic Mission Symbols

A   Aerial target                                   1940-1941  
A   Attack & light bombardment (to B,F)             1926-1947  
B   Bombardment                                     1926-       
BC  Basic Combat trainer (to AT)                    1936-1940  
BG  Bomb-carrying Glider                            1942-1944  
BLR Bombardment-Long Range (to B)                   1934-1936  
BT  Basic Trainer (to T)                            1930-1947  
BQ  Controllable Bomb - ground launched             1942-1945  
C   Cargo transport                                 1925-  
CG  Cargo Glider (to G)                             1941-1947  
CQ  Target Control(to D modified mission symbol)    1942-1947  
F   Photographic reconnaissance (to R modified      1930-1947  
     mission symbol)  
FG  Fuel Glider                                     1944-1947  
FM  Fighter Multiplace                              1935-1942  
G   Gyroplane (to O,R)                              1935-1939  
GB  Glide Bomb                                      1942-1947  
GT  Glide Torpedo                                   1942-1947  
HB  Heavy Bombardment (to B)                        1925-1927   
JB  Jet-Propelled Bomb                              1943-1947  
L   Liaison (formerly O)                            1942-1962  
LB  Light Bombardment (from DB; to B)               1924-1932  
O   Observation (to L)                              1924-1942  
OA  Observation Amphibian                           1925-1947  
OQ  Aerial Target - non-man carrying (to Q)         1942-1947  
P   Pursuit (to F)                                  1925-1947  
PB  Pursuit Biplace                                 1935-1941  
PG  Powered Glider                                  1943-1947  
PQ  Aerial Target - man-carrying(formerly A,to Q)   1942-1947  
PT  Primary Trainer (to T)                          1925-1947  
R   Rotary Wing (to H)                              1941-1947  
S   Supersonic/Special Test (to X)                  1946-1947  
TG  Trainer Glider                                  1941-1947

U.S. Air Force Aircraft

1947-1962 System

The U.S. Air Force Department was created on September 18, 1947, resulting in a new system of designation for its aircraft and the U.S. Army's aircraft, which developed its own system in 1956. 14 years later, a slightly revised system was adopted by all branches of service. The following symbols were used in the period between 1947 and 1962. Refer to the Joint Service System below for the full system after 1962.

example -             YDB-47B  
Status                   Y  
Modified mission         D  
Mission                  B  
Design number            47  
Design series            B  

Status Prefixes

J  Special test - temporary  1956-  
N  Special test - permanent  1956-  
X  Experimental              1925-  
Y  Service Test              1928-  
Z  Obsolete                  1928-  

Modified Mission Symbols

C  Transport                        1943-  
D  Director/Drone controller        1948-  
E  Special Electronic Installation  1948-  
G  Parasite aircraft carrier (to D) 1948-1962
K  Tanker                           1949-  
M  Medical                          1951-1962  
P  Passenger transport only         1948-1963  
Q  Radio Controlled Drone           1948-  
R  Reconnaissance                   1948-  
S  Search and Rescue (to H)         1948-1962  
T  Trainer                          1943-  
U  Utility                          1951-  
V  Administrative/V.I.P. transport  1945-  
W  Weather reconnaissance           1948-  

Basic Mission Symbols

A  Amphibian (formerly OA)                      1948-1962  
B  Bomber (A redes. to B 1947)                  1925-  
C  Cargo Transport                              1925-  
F  Fighter (formerly A,P)                       1948-  
G  Glider                                       1948-1955  
H  Helicopter (formerly R)                      1948-  
L  Liaison (formerly O)                         1942-1962  
Q  Aerial Target (formerly OQ,PQ)               1948-1962  
R  Reconnaissance (formerly F)                  1948-1962  
T  Trainer (formerly AT,BT,PT)                  1948-  
V  Convertiplane                                1952-1962
V  VTOL/STOL (1962 became aircraft type symbol) 1954-  
X  Special Research (formerly [X]S)             1948-

U.S. Army Aircraft

1956-1962 System

During the period of 1956-1962, the Army Air Forces (not associated with U.S. Air Force) adopted a simple designation system for its aircraft. The following six symbols plus a design number were used at this time.

examples - AO-1     HU-2      VZ-10  

AC	Airplane, Cargo  
AO	Airplane, Observation  
AU	Airplane, Utility
AZ  Airplane, experimental  
HC	Helicopter, Cargo  
HO	Helicopter, Observation  
HU	Helicopter, Utility  
HZ  Helicopter, experimental
VZ	VTOL research

U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft

1911-1914 System

Aircraft were designated by a letter assigned to the current manufacturers.
More letters were added to define not only manufacturer but also type of aircraft.

example -   C-1  

A  Curtiss-built land and hydroplanes  1911  
B  Wright-built land and hydroplanes   1911  
C  Curtiss-built flying boats          1912  
D  Burgess & Curtiss flying boats      1912  
E  Curtiss amphibians                  1913

1914-1916 System

On March 17, 1914 the new system identified aircraft with one letter indicating aircraft class and a second letter defining aircraft type. Existing aircraft were redesignated alphabetically into the new system, with one exception (see below). Since all landplanes were converted into hydroplanes before the new 1914 system, the AL designation was not assigned.
example - AX-1 (redes. E-1)

Class           A
Type            X  
Design Number   1  


Class

A  Heavier than air  
B  Balloons  
D  Dirigibles  
K  Kite balloons  

Type

B  Flying boats  
C  Convertible airplanes  
H  Hydroplanes  
L  Landplanes  
X  Amphibians  


Existing aircraft redesignated under the 1914 system  

HYDRO CLASS
Curtiss A-1 redes. to AH-1  
Curtiss A-3 redes. to AH-3 \ Out of sequence  
Curtiss A-4 redes. to AH-2 /  
Wright  B-1 redes. to AH-4  
Wright  B-2 redes. to AH-5  
Wright  B-3 redes. to AH-6  

FLYING BOAT CLASS
Curtiss C-1 redes. to AB-1  
Curtiss C-2 redes. to AB-2  
Curtiss C-3 redes. to AB-3  
Curtiss C-4 redes. to AB-4  
Curtiss C-5 redes. to AB-5  
Burgess D-1 redes. to AB-6  
Burgess D-2 redes. to AB-7  

AMPHIBIAN CLASS
Curtiss E-1 redes. to AB-7

1917-1922 System


During this period there was no standard system of designation. Manufacturer's designations were used during this time, resulting in a variety of different designations. 
examples -          F-5L   H-12   DH-4

1922-1962 System

After the reorganization of naval aviation by the Bureau of Aeronautics, a new system was brought into use (see below). However, on March 10, 1923, it was decided that the emphasis should be placed on type of aircraft, not the manufacturer, so the manufacturer's letter was placed after the mission letter. This new system was divided into two classes, airplanes and airships. Airplanes were identified by the letter V and airships were identified by the letter Z. These letters were only for administrative purposes, although Z did appear in rigid airship designations.


Airplanes

  
examples (1923)                       TB3F-1S    HO4S-1    WF-2  
                                
(5) Status or class prefix               -         H         -  
(1) Type or class                       TB         O         W  
(4) Manufacturer type sequence           3         4        [1]  
(2) Manufacturer                         F         S         F  
(3) Aircraft configuration sequence      1         1         2  
(6) Special purpose suffix               S         -         -  
note: the numbers in parentheses indicate the order of adoption of each portion 


Status/class prefix

H  Helicopter           
L  Glider  
N  1st-line aircraft assigned to reserve  
X  Experimental  
Y  Prototype  


Type or Class  - Note: "V" prefix not included, since it was only used
                        for administrative purposes

A   Ambulance                  1943  
A   Attack                     1946-1962  
B   Bomber                     1931-1943  
BF  Bomber-Fighter             1934-1937  
BT  Bomber-Torpedo (to A)      1942-1945  
DS  Anti-submarine drone       1959-1962  
F   Fighter                    1922-1962  
G   Transport, single-engine   1939-1941  
G   Flight refuelling tanker   1958-1962  
HC  Crane helicopter           1951-1955  
J   Transport (to R)           1928-1931  
J   Utility                    1931-1962  
JR  Utility transport          1935-1962  
M   Marine expeditionare       1922-1923  
N   Trainer                    1922-1960  
O   Observation                1922-1962  
OS  Observation-Scout          1935-1945  
P   Patrol                     1923-1962  
PB  Patrol Bomber              1935-1962  
PTB Patrol Torpedo-Bomber      1937  
R   Racer                      1922-1928  
R   Transport                  1931-1962  
RO  Rotorcycle                 1954-1959  
S   Scout                      1922-1946  
S   Anti-submarine             1951-1962  
SB  Scout Bomber               1934-1946  
SN  Scout-Trainer              1939-1962  
SO  Scout-Observation          1935-1946
T   Torpedo                    1922-1935  
T   Trainer                    1948-1962  
T   Transport                  1927-1930  
TB  Torpedo-Bomber             1935-1946  
TD  Target Drone               1942-1946  
TS  Torpedo-Scout              1943  
U   Utility                    1955-1962  
U   Unpiloted drone            1946-1955  
W   Airborne Early Warning     1952-1962  


Manufacturer's Letters
 
A  Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company                      1922 
A  Allied Aviation Corporation (gliders only)              1941-1943
A  Atlantic Fokker Corporation (American Fokker)           1927-1930
A  Brewster Aeronautical Corporation                       1935-1943
A  General Aviation Corporation (formerly Atlantic)        1930-1932
A  Noorduyn Aviation, Ltd. (Canada)                        1946  
B  Beech Aircraft Company                                  1937-1945
B  Boeing Aircraft Company                                 1923-1959
B  Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company                    1942-1944
B  Aerial Engineering Corporation (Booth or Bee Line)      1922  
BS Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company (England)           1922  
C  Cessna Aircraft Corporation (also E)                    1943  
C  Culver Aircraft Corporation                             1943-1946
C  Curtiss Aeroplane & Motor Company                       1922-1946
C  De Havilland of Canada, Ltd.                            1955-1956 
CH Caspar-Werke Gmbh (Germany)                             1922  
D  Douglas Aircraft Corporation                            1922-1962
D  Frankfort Sailplane Company (target drones)             1945-1946
D  McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (to H)                   1942-1946
D  Radioplane Corporation (drones)                         1943-1962
DH De Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd. (England)               1927-1931
DW Dayton-Wright Airplane Company                          1923  
E  Bellanca Aircraft Corporation                           1931-1937
E  Cessna Aircraft Corporation (formerly C)                1951-1962
E  Detroit Aircraft Corporation (to Great Lakes)           1928  
E  Edo Aircraft Corporation                                1943-1946
E  G. Elias & Brothers, Inc.                               1922-1924
E  Gould Aeronautical Corporation (gliders)                1942-1945
E  Hiller Aircraft Corporation (helicopters)               1948-1962
E  Piper Aircraft Corporation (airplanes) (also O/P)       1941-1945
E  Pratt-Read (gliders)                                    1942-1945
F  Fairchild Aircraft, Ltd. (Canada)                       1942-1945
F  Royal Dutch Aircraft Mfg. Works (Fokker)                1922  
F  Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation                1931-1962
G  A.G.A. Aviation Corporation (gliders)                   1942  
G  Bell Aircraft Corporation (for Bell-built Great Lakes)  1935-1936
G  Eberhart Aeroplane & Motor Company                      1927-1928
G  Gallaudet Aircraft Corporation                          1922  
G  Globe Aircraft Corporation (target drones)              1946-1959
G  Goodyear Aircraft Corporation                           1942-1962
G  Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation (ex-Detroit)           1929-1935
G  Gyrodyne Co. of America (drones, rotorcycles, to N)     1960  
H  Hall-Aluminum Aircraft Corp. (to Consolidated, 1940)    1928-1940
H  Howard Aircraft Company                                 1941-1944
H  Huff, Daland & Company (to Keystone)                    1922-1927
H  McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (formerly D)             1946-1962
H  Snead and Company (gliders)                             1942  
H  Stearman-Hammond Aircraft Corporation                   1937-1938
HP Handley Page, Ltd. (England)                            1922  
J  Berliner-Joyce Aircraft Corporation                     1929-1935
J  General Aviation Corporation (formerly Atlantic)        1935  
J  North American Aviation Corporation (successor to       1937-1962
    General Aviation)  
JL Junkers-Larsen Aircraft Corporation                     1922  
K  Fairchild Aircraft Corporation (Kreider-Reisner)        1937-1942
K  Kaiser Cargo, Inc. (Fleetwings Division)                1943-1945
K  Kaman Aircraft Corporation (helicopters)                1950-1962
K  Keystone Aircraft Corporation (formerly Huff, Daland)   1927-1930
K  J.V. Martin                                             1922-1924
K  Nash-Kelvinator Corporation                             1942  
L  Bell Aircraft Corporation (helicopters after 1946)      1939-1962
L  Columbia Aircraft Corporation                           1945  
L  Grover Loening, Inc.                                    1932-1933
L  Langley Aviation Corporation                            1942-1943
L  Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corp. (to Keystone)    1922-1932
L  L.W.F. Engineering Corporation                          1922  
M  Glenn L. Martin Company                                 1922-1962
M  General Motors Corporation (Eastern Aircraft Division)  1942-1945
M  McCulloch Motors Corporation                            1953-1954
N  Gyrodyne Co. of America Inc. (drones, rotorcycles)      1960  
N  Naval Aircraft Factory                                  1922-1945
O  Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (Plant B)                 1931-1950
O  Piper Aircraft Corporation (also E/P)                   1960  
O  Viking Flying Boat Corporation                          1929-1936
P  Piasecki Helicopter Corp. (formerly P-V Engineering)    1946-1960
P  Piper Aircraft Corporation (gliders)                    1942-1943
P  Pitcairn Autogyro Corporation                           1931-1932
P  P-V Engineering Forum (later Piasecki, Vertol)          1944-1962
P  Vertol Aircraft Corporation (formerly Piasecki, P-V;    1956-1962
    to Boeing 1960)  
P  Spartan Aircraft Company                                1940-1941
PL George Parnall & Company (England)                      1922  
Q  Bristol Aeronautical Corporation (gliders)              1941-1943
Q  Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation               1928-1962
Q  Stinson Aircraft Corporation (to Convair, 1942)         1934-1936
Q  Charles Ward Hall, Inc.                                 1926  
R  Aeronca Aircraft Corporation (gliders)                  1942  
R  American Aviation Corporation (gliders)                 1942  
R  Brunswick-Balke-Collender Corporation                   1942-1943
R  Ford Motor Company                                      1927-1932
R  Interstate Aircraft & Engineering Corporation (drones)  1942-1962
R  Maxson-Brewster Corporation                             1939-1940
R  Radioplane Division, Northrop Corp. (target drones)     1943-1962
R  Ryan Aeronautical Company                               1941-1946
RO Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali Romeo                  1933  
S  Schweizer Aircraft Corporation (gliders)                1941  
S  Sikorsky Aviation Corporation (helicopters after 1943)  1928-1962
S  Stearman Aircraft Company (later Boeing-Wichita, 1939)  1934-1945
S  Stout Engineering Laboratories                          1922  
S  Sperry Gyroscope Company (target drones)                1950  
S  Supermarine                                             1943  
T  New Standard Aircraft Corporation                       1930-1934
T  Northrop Aircraft, Inc.                                 1944  
T  The Northrop Corporation (later Douglas-El Segundo)     1933-1937
T  Temco Aircraft Corporation                              1956  
T  Timm Aircraft Corporation                               1941-1943
T  Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation                       1922  
U  Chance Vought Corporation (now Ling-Temco-Vought)       1922-1962
V  Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (Vega, Plant A)           1942-1962
V  Canadian Vickers, Ltd.                                  1942-1945
V  Vultee Aircraft, Inc. (to Consolidated as Convair, Y, 1942)1941  
VK Vickers, Ltd. (England)                                 1922  
W  Canadian Car & Foundry Co., Ltd.                        1942-1945
W  Waco Aircraft Corporation (gliders after 1942)          1934-1945
W  Wright Aeronautical Corporation                         1922-1926
X  Cox-Klemin Aircraft Corporation                         1922-1924
Y  Consolidated (to Convair 1942)                          1926-1942
Y  Convair (Consolidated-Stonson-Vultee)                   1942-1962
Y  General Dynamics (General Dynamics-Convair est. 1961)   1961-1962
Z  Pennsylvania Aircraft Syndicate                         ?


Special Purpose Suffix Letters

A	Miscellaneous modification  
A	Armament on normally unarmed airplane  
A	Arrester gear on normally non-carrier airplane  
A	Built for Army or obtained from Army  
A	Amphibious version  
A	Land-based version of carrier aircraft  
B	Miscellaneous modification  
B	Special armament  
B	British version through Lend-Lease  
C	Arrester gear added  
C	Reinforced for catapulting  
C	Cannon Armament  
C	Navy equivalent of Army C-series aircraft (SBN-2C = AT-7C)  
CP	Trimetrogen camera  
D	Drop tanks  
D	Drone control  
D	Navy equivalent of Army D-series aircraft  
D	Special search  
D	Special radar  
E	Electronic equipment  
F	Flagship conversion  
F	Special power plant  
G	Search and rescue (later Coast Guard)  
G	Coast Guard version  
G	Gun on normally unarmed airplane  
G	Navy equivalent of Army G-series aircraft  
H	Hospital conversion  
H	Navy equivalent of Army H-series aircraft  
J	Special weather equipment  
J	Navy equivalent of Army J-series aircraft  
K	Drone conversion  
L	Winterized version  
L	Searchlight carrier  
M	Missile launcher  
N	Night fighter  
N	All-weather operation  
NA	Night version stripped for day attack  
NL	Night, winterized version  
P	Photographic version  
Q	Electronic countermeasures version  
R	Support transport  
R	Transport conversion  
S	Anti-submarine  
T	Two-seat training version  
U	Utility version  
W	Special search version  
W	Airborne early warning version  
Z	Administrative transport version  

  

Airships

  
DN	Dirigible, Navy
*****Kite balloon/balloon
ZKN	Kite balloon/balloon trainer
ZKO	Kite balloon/balloon observation

Non-rigid
ZMC	experimental Metal-Clad
ZNN	Non-rigid Trainer
ZNO	Non-rigid Observation
ZNP	Non-rigid Patrol
ZNS	Non-rigid Scout

Rigid
ZR	Rigid airship
ZRS	Rigid Scout
ZRP	Rigid Patrol
ZRN	Rigid Trainer

Joint Service System for U.S. Air Force (1948-), U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army (1962-)


On June 11, 1948 the U.S. Air Force was created and a new designation system was adopted. A few changes were made from the 1948 system; refer to the USAF 1948 system. The slightly revised system was adopted for all services on September 18, 1962, and all Navy/Marines Corps/Coast Guard aircraft were redesignated according to the new system, as well as Army aircraft. On January 1, 1967, however, an Army-Air Force agreement on fixed-wing transports caused most large Army fixed-wing aircraft to be transferred to the U.S. Air Force, in return for the Army's right to pursue helicopter ventures with no restrictions. Designations after 1962 had a revised numbering sequence; design numbers following the basic mission symbols A, B, C, F and O were reset to the number one. The basic mission symbols P and S are used by the Navy only; both began with the number two as the design number and continued sequentially. Otherwise, no one branch of service monopolizes a basic mission symbol. Whenever a type symbol is used, a modified mission symbol is utilized.


examples -          YF-12       JOV-10D  
Status Prefix         Y            J  
Modified Mission      -            O   
Basic Mission         F            -  
Type                  -            V  
Design Number         12           10  
Design Series         -            D  


Status Prefix

G  Permanently grounded                  1924-  
J  Special test (temporary)              1956-  
N  Special test (permanent)              1956-  
X  Experimental                          1924-  
Y  Prototype                             1928-  
Z  Planning (originally meant obsolete)  1928-  


Basic Mission
 
A  Attack (numbering sequence reset 1962)       1942-1947, 1962-  
B  Bomber (numbering sequence reset 1962)       1925-  
C  Transport (numbering sequence reset 1962)    1925-  
E  Special Electronic Installation              1962-
F  Fighter (numbering sequence reset 1962)      1948-
L  Laser                                        1997- 
O  Observation (numbering sequence reset 1962)  1924-1942, 1962-  
P  Patrol                                       1962-
R  Reconaissance                                199?-
S  Antisubmarine                                1962-
T  Trainer                                      1948-  
U  Utility                                      1962-
X  Research                                     1948-  


Aircraft Type
 
G  Glider                                       1962-  
H  Helicopter                                   1948-  
Q  Unmanned Aerial Vehicle                      1997-
S  Spaceplane                                   ?-
V  VTOL/STOL (not used as status until 1962)	1954-  
Z  Lighter-than-air                             1962-


Modified Mission
 
A  Attack                            1962-                           
C  Transport                         1943-  
D  Director (formerly G)             1948-  
E  Special Electronics Installation  1948-  
F  Fighter                           1962-
H  Search and Rescue (formerly S)    1962-
K  Tanker                            1949-  
L  Cold weather                      1962-
M  Missile carrier, Multimission     1962-  
O  Observation                       1962-
P  Patrol                            1962-
Q  Drone                             1948-  
R  Reconnaissance                    1948-  
S  Anti-submarine                    1962-
T  Trainer                           1943-  
U  Utility                           1951-
V  Staff                             1945- 
W  Weather reconnaissance            1948-


Top Back to the top
Back Back to the main designations page
Home Back to my home page
E-mail me E-mail me !



All pages ©copyright Andrew Chorney, 2007